Albany State University students selected for prominent summer research and internship opportunities (3165 hits)

From exploring cutting edge theories to addressing challenging health disparities, Albany State University (ASU) honor students will be active this summer participating in programs at some of the country’s leading research universities and businesses.

The experiences will prepare students for advancement in graduate level programs and learning beyond the classroom.

Sixteen Velma Fudge Grant Honors Program students from various majors will participate in research programs and internships at UCLA; Duke University; University of California, Irvine; Western University; Carnegie Mellon University; University of Pennsylvania; University of Iowa; Meharry School of Medicine; Tuskegee University and Kohl’s.

Sabrina Netters, a freshman computer science major, plans to pursue a Ph.D. in computer science at Carnegie Mellon University in the future. This summer, she will participate in the institution’s Program in Interdisciplinary Education Research (PIER) Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program.

“PIER REU will assist my career and provide me with future mentors,” Netters said. “The job market for computer science is growing and becoming more competitive, and my participation in the program will afford me with advantages that will enable me to become a frontrunner in the job market.”

ASU freshmen biology major DeStandreana Norwood will attend the 2018 Summer Biomedical Sciences Institute at Duke University. The six-week program will prepare students to apply to medical school and prepare them for success in the pre-health sciences.

“Once I graduate from ASU, I plan to pursue a medical degree in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Duke University and later practice medicine in the field,” Norwood said. “I look forward to experiencing the rigors of medical school by taking multiple pre-health science courses while also attending clinical exposures and clinical shadowing in a Duke Health System facility.”

Honor students, along with summer research students and interns from other universities, will work closely with professors and advisors from each designated institution and business. Many of the programs cover transportation costs, lodging and food expenses. Some ASU students will also receive stipends ranging from $3,000 to $5,000.

“The programs will substantially broaden their knowledge in the field, enhance their resumes and significantly strengthen their academic credentials,” said Florence Lyons, director of the ASU Velma Fudge Grant Honors Program. “Since I reviewed and edited the application essays for the majority of the students, I know how hard they worked to prepare excellent applications and I am overjoyed that they have been accepted.” Lyons initiated the partnerships between ASU and many of the universities in an effort to increase the number of research opportunities for ASU students.